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Naughty Dog Details Uncharted 3 Multiplayer, Beta

The best elements of the campaign meet multiplayer mayhem. Beta in June.

Naughty Dog wants to sprinkle some action-adventure into your multiplayer experience, and the studio is ready to describe how it plans to do so in Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception.

When Naughty Dog announced Uncharted 3 back in December, it wasted no time declaring it intended to deliver the best multiplayer experience available on the PlayStation 3. For those that glazed over the Uncharted 2 multiplayer, the announcement came as a surprise. How could Uncharted 3 possibly top the CoDs and Battlefields of the world in online play? Naughty Dog's answer: By applying the best elements of the single-player campaign. Get a glimpse of that design philosophy in action below:

"Uncharted 3 provides online players with a unique action-adventure multiplayer experience, applying the cinematic quality of the single-player campaign to the multiplayer mode with explosive adventure, interactive environments based on the same vibrant locations found in the single-player campaign, and big set pieces that deliver intense moments to competitive play," Naughty Dog said in a statement.

The studio also revealed, as noted in the trailer, when fans will get the chance to try the upgraded Uncharted 3 multiplayer for themselves. The beta is set to begin on June 28 for PlayStation Plus subscribers and those who purchase Infamous 2. Everyone else on PSN can jump into the beta on July 5.

The rundown on Uncharted 3 multiplayer features from Naughty Dog:

New modes - A new collection of competitive multiplayer modes to offer a robust set of unique online gameplay options, such as six-player Three Team Deathmatch for 2 vs. 2 vs. 2 gameplay or eight-player Free For All. Popular Team Deathmatch mode also returns supporting up to 10 players for 5 vs. 5 gameplay.

Customization galore - New and improved customization features give players a variety of options to create their own unique play style, including four load out slots allowing players to pick among starting long gun and sidearm options, two upgradable booster slots, one paid booster slot, and weapon modifications allowing for thousands of combinations. Player characters are also completely customizable through hundreds of mix-and-match items, while customizable character emblems represent players throughout online play.

Balanced matchmaking, Power Plays - A new inherent player balancing system ensures that matches stay competitive. Matchmaking is based on player levels, unique Power Plays reward the winning team with increased cash opportunities while providing the losing team with an opportunity to close the gap, and new gameplay modes such as Overtime or Sudden Death increase the intensity between two evenly matched teams in the closing moments of a heated match.

New Buddy System - Team up with friends using the Buddy System in competitive play to use unique buddy boosters and create opportunities where working together will help earn additional cash. This unique system gives players who work together an advantage over other opponents.

Treasure, medals, kickbacks - The hunt for treasure continues. Players can collect treasures from all game modes -- some far more rare than others. Completing treasure sets will unlock unique items in-game. Earn Medals and powerful Kickback rewards based on performance that are designed to give you increased combat proficiency.

Split screen - Expanded multiplayer features including the ability to join late to games already in progress; as well as two-player split-screen supporting two separate PSN logins, which allows for more flexibility when playing with friends.

Highlight reels - Enhanced Cinema feature introduces a suite of new editing tools—including an added rewind-- giving players the freedom to create highlight reels and upload clips to popular social media sites YouTube and Facebook from directly within the game. And a new Uncharted TV feature will highlight the best user generated content and videos.

Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception is a PlayStation 3 exclusive. The game is scheduled for release on November 1.

Sharkey says: I love how studios have been trying to rethink multiplayer modes of late. Standard Deathmatches are fun, but they aren't the best fit for some franchises. Ubisoft led the way, designing an innovative multiplayer for Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood that was built on one of the strengths of the single-player game. It looks like Naughty Dog will do much the same, only to the Nth degree with Uncharted 3. Can't wait to see how it plays.